Automobile lock



H. T. THOMAS.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.27. 1919.

Patented'ept. l2, 1922.

SSHEETS-SHEET I.

H. T. THOMAS.

l AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.27. 1919.

Patented sept. 12,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

tlbtowm H. T. THOMAS.

. AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.27. I9I9.

1922. a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Sept.y 12,

W m I l I l] MIIIIIIIII Patented Sept.. l2, i922.

"i .iniTFiS HORA T. THOMAS, OF LANSING, FIICHIGAN.

.AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Application led August 2'?, 1919.' Serial No. 320,105.

T0 .all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, lflonaon T. TiroMAs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansing, county of lngham, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and use-ful improvement inl Automobile Locks, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reiference being had to the accompanying drawings, which iorm a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automobile locks and an object of my improvements' is to still further perfect the kind ot lock patented to me November 14, 1916, in United States Letters Patent No. 1,205,059.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is an elevation partly in section of an apparatus embodying my invention and so much of the adjacent portions oit an automob-ile as are necessary to show its connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of said mechanism adiacent to the upper surface of thel iioor of the automobile.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism adjacent to the upper surface et the floor of the automobile.

Fig. Ll is a detail elevation ot the sleeve in which the locking plunger reciprocates.

Fig. 5 is a plan view oi the part shown in Fig. 4i.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the boltretracting device.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the part shown in Fig. 6.

Fi S is a section on the line VHF-VIH, Fig. 7, looking from the right of the latter ligure.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the detachable eccentric lug of the bolt-retracting device.

Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in a different position.

a, a are the. side pieces of an automobile chassis, o indicates a supporting frame resting upon the side pieces a, a. c, o2 are the reciprocating rods for operating the change speed gearing to set the same for different speeds. Z is a verticallyreciprocating rod, or plunger, having an extending part Z2 pivoted to its lower end, which latter, engages in slots in the rod c, c2 at the neutral position ot the change speed gearing to restrain said rods from motion and prevent the operation oi the automobile. c is the lever pivoted at c2 engaging at one end under the lower end of the rod d and at the other end connected to the vertically reciprocating rod f which has an offset arm f2 at its lower end carrying a contactnnalring point f3. `When the plunger Z is at its upper position the part Z2 is withdrawn from engagement with 'the rods 0, c2 and when it is depressed, it engages in said slots, and when further depressed it completes the circuit through the starting motor to the point The above construction has previously been used and is shown in my patent above referred to.

a: is the floor of the body of the automobile, The supporting frame b has a part pextend ing upward through the floor 00 in which there is a ifertically-extending cylindrical aperture L extending through the lower end of the latter beneath the floor of the body of the automobile. 7c, 73 is an aperture having its axis parallel to the aperture 7L and located at a distance from the latter and extending tlirough the part p of the frame l). The aperture j has its axis in the same plane the aires o't the apertures L and 7J and intersects the latter toward their lower ends.

g is a hollow cylindrical sleeve `fitting and adapted to turn in the `aperture 7L and pro vided at its upper end above the upper surface of the projection j) with a horizontallyextending arm Q2 having an indicating pointer at its outer end. q is a rectangular aperture cut through the wall ot the sleeve r] toward the lower end of said sleeve. ff is a slot cut through the wall of the sleeve Q. g5 is a pin inserted in the wall surrounding the aperture 7L and engaging in the slot gt, thus limiting and permitting the voscillation ot said sleeve while preventing the same from being moved vertically.

m is a bolt adapted to reciprocate in the slot and provided with an impelling spring 'm3 acting to force said bolt toward the plunger d. lhen the sleeve g is turned lo the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and shown in Fig. l0, the aperture Q3 registers with the. bore of the aperture j and permits the bolt m to pass through the wall of thesleeve. When said. sleeve is turned in the other position its wall is in front of the bolt m and prevents the same from being` moved forward under the impulse of the spring m3 (Figli).

m2 indicates a slot formed in the upper surface` of the bolt m.

ay is a part inserted and fitting in the aperture 7c provided with an outwardly-extending flange around its upper end which eninaccessible to a person in the body of the vehicle. a2 is a cylindrical portion of the part n. This has a cylindrical vertically-exten-ding aperture through it in which lits and turns a cylindrical rod as, having an eccentric lug a fixed to its lower end, which lug engages in the slot m2 in the bolt m. The rod ns is provided with a pin-lock appara tus, and with a slot at its upper end adapted to receive a key for adjusting the pins in the locking apparatus to turn said rod. This latter is a conventional construction and is not specifically shown.

The operation of the above-described apparatus is as follows:-

In the unlocked position the plunger d is at the upper end of its travel; the engaging part Z2 is withdrawn from the slots in the rods c and c2 and the change speed gearing may be adjusted in the usual way for the required ratio of speed. ln this position the arm Q2 has the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and the wall of the sleeve Q is interposed in front of the bolt m. Under these conditions when the change speed gear is in neutral position, the bolt CZ may be depressed by the foot of the operator, the part cl2 passing through the slots in the shifting rods c, c2, then at neutral position, and carrying' the contact-making part into posi* tion to complete the circuit through the starting motor.

When the engine starts the operators foot is withdrawn from the plunger al which returns to the position first described, leaving the rods c, c2 free.

Wheny it is desired to lock the parts in inoperative position, the arm Q2 is turned at right angles to its first described position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This brings the aperture Q3 in front of the bolt m. New whenA the plunger Z is depressed, the slot (Z3 in the side of said plunger comes opposite thebolt m which is projected into said slot by the spring m3thus locking the plunger l in the position shown in ig. l and as shown in Fig. l() in which position, as above described, the change speed gearing is locked in neutral position and as will be seen by inspection of Figs. l and l() the bolt Z is locked so that the circuit through the starting motor cannot be completed.

To unlock the parts a. key is inserted in the slot at the upper ond of the rod as. When said rod is turned7 the lug as, engaging against a wall of t-he slot m2 and retracting the bolt m. The plunger Z is then automatically forced to its upper position by a spring o provided for that purpose carrying the slot cl3 above the bolt m. rlhe arm Q2 is inanipulated to turn the sleeve Q to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which its wall is in front of the bolt m, and the parts are in their initial position suitable for the control of the automobile.

The arm Q2 swings beyond the edge of the aperture through the floor1 a', so that said floor cannot be raised inthe locked position of the mechanism, (Fig. 2);

The sleeve Q is a convenient form of construction but my invention includes a range of equivalents thereof as broad as would be included in its bolt obstructing and releasing function. I

What l claim is:

1. rlhe combination of a change speed gea-ring, a part adapted to lock said gearing, a starting motor, said part being adapted to set said motor inte op-eration toward one end of its travel, an automatic means for lockingl said part in a position in which the change speed gearing is locked and the starting motor is inoperative, and an adjustable means for preventing the operation of the means for locking said part.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a change speed gearing, a starting motor, a reciprocating plunger adapted to lock said gearing and set said motor into operation, said plunger being provided with a slot in its side wall, a bolt adapted to engage in said slot to lock said plunger in a position in which the change speed gearing is locked and the motor is not in operative position, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger and adapted to interpose its wall between the bolt in its retracted position and said slot, said sleeve being provided with an apertureV through its wall adapted to permit the passage of said bolt at one angular position of the same and means for retracting said bolt.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a change speed gearing, a starting motor, a reciprocating plunger adapted to lock said gear and set said motor in operation, said plunger being provided with a slotl in its side wall, a bolt adapted to automatically engage in said slot to lock said plunger in the position in which the change speed gearing is locked when the motor is not in operative position, a rotatable sleeve surrounding saidv plunger and adapted to interpose its wall between the bolt in its retracted position and said bolt, said sleeve being provided with an aperture through its wall adapted to permit the passage of said bolt at one angular position yof the sleeve and means :tor retracting said bolt.

4i. ln an apparatus ot the kind described, the combination of a change speed gearing, a starting motor, a reciprocating plunger adapted to lock said gearing and set said motor in operation, said plunger being provided with a slot in its side wall, a bolt adapted to engage in said slot to lock said plunger in a position in which the change speed gearing is locked and the motor is not in operative position, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger and adapted to interpose its wall between the bolt in its retracted position and said slot, said sleeve being provided with an aperture through its wall adapted to permit the passage of said bolt at one angular position of the same, means lfor retracting said bolt, and a keycontrolled means :for retracting said bolt.

5. ln an apparatus of the kind described, having a floor provided with an aperture, a trame secured below the floor and extending through an aperture in said floor, and a gear locking mechanism in said extension, said gear locking mechanism having a part adapted to extend over the edge of the aperture through the floor and prevent the removal of the latter in the locked position ot the mechanism.

6. In an apparatus oi the kind described, having a floor provided with an aperture, a framesecured below the floor and extending through an aperture in said floor, and a gear locking mechanism in said extension, said gear locking mechanism having a part adapted to extend over the edge of the aperture through the floor and prevent the removal of the latter in the locked position oit the mechanism, and means for locking said part in its position over the edge of the aperture through the iioor in the locked' position of the mechanism.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger, a bolt adapted to engage said plunger in one position of the same, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and having its wall interposed between said bolt and plunger, and an aperture through the wall of said sleeve adapted to permit the passage of said bolt in one angular position of the sleeve.

8. 1n an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger, a bolt adapted to engage said plunger in one position of the same, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and having its wall interposed between said bolt and plunger, and an aperture through the wall ot said sleeve adapted to permit the passage ot said bolt in one angular position of the sleeve, said plunger extending through an aperture in the licor board, said sleeve being provided with an arm adapted to extend over the edge of the aperture through the Hoor board in lthe locked position of said sleeve permitting the passage or' said bolt.

9. 1n an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a change speed gearing, a starting motor, a reciprocating plunger adapted to lock said gear and set said motor in operation, said plunger being provided with a slot in its side wall, a bolt adapted to automatically engage in said slot to lock said plunger in the position in which the change speed gearing is locked when the motor is not in operative position, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger and adapted to interpose its wall between the bolt in its retracted position and said slot, said sleeve being provided with an aperture through its wall adapted to permit the passage ot said bolt at one angular position of the sleeve and means adapted to be locked and unlocked Vfor retracting said bolt, said bolt being only accessible through said retracting means.

l0. 1n an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a reciprocating plunger having a slot in the side thereof, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger, a bolt adapted to engage said plunger in one position of the same, automatic means for actuating said bolt to its engaged position, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and having a wall adapted to be interposed between said bolt and plunger, said sleeve being provided with an aperture through its wall adapted to permit the passage of said bolt to its engaged position in one angular position of the sleeve.

ll. ln an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a reciprocating plunger having a slot in the side thereof, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said plunger, a bolt adapted to engage said plunger in one position of the same, automatic means for actuating said bolt to its engaged position, a sleeve surrounding said plunger and having a wall adapted to be interposed between said bolt and plunger, said sleeve being provided with an aperture through its wall adapted to permit the passage of said bolt to its engaged position in one angular position of the sleeve, a part adapted to be locked and unlocked and to be manipulated to withdraw said bolt from its engaging position.

1n .testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

HORACE T. THGMAS. 

